Bias alleged in Ice Hockey team selection for Asian Winter games 2025.
Bias alleged in Ice Hockey team selection for Asian Winter games 2025.

Summary

NEW DELHI: Serious concerns have been raised by the Ice Hockey Association of Kargil over the selection process for Team India, set to participate in…

NEW DELHI: Serious concerns have been raised by the Ice Hockey Association of Kargil over the selection process for Team India, set to participate in the prestigious Asian Winter Games 2025. In a memorandum addressed to Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, the association has highlighted alleged irregularities in the selection process, calling it opaque and unfair.

 

According to the memorandum, the Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) conducted the team selection in a closed format, without issuing any notifications or consulting affiliated states and clubs. This process, the association claims, ignored deserving talent, particularly from Ladakh, which contributes 90% of the national ice hockey players.

 

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Ladakh Winter Sports Club, Leh, and Kargil Ice and Snow Sports Club, Kargil—founding members of IHAI—were allegedly not informed about the selection process. The absence of proper intimation has led to questions about why Ladakhi players, many of whom have consistently excelled in national and local events, were overlooked.

 

The association has accused IHAI of denying opportunities to skilled and hardworking players, calling the process unfair and detrimental to the sport’s development. “Ice hockey has grown significantly, attracting youth for years. Excluding talented players demotivates them and undermines their efforts,” the memorandum stated.

 

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The Ice Hockey Association of Kargil has urged the government to intervene and rectify the alleged discrepancies in the selection process before it is too late. “The government’s recent investments in ice hockey must be utilized effectively to nurture talent and encourage participation, not discourage deserving players,” the letter emphasized.

 

The controversy has cast a shadow over the preparations for the Asian Winter Games 2025, with growing calls for transparency and fairness in team selection. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is yet to respond to the allegations.